Berlin Marathon 2008 Report by Peter Strange

I’ve never written a race report before but the Berlin Marathon last Sunday is worth a few words.

I’d been looking forward to the run for a long time, not only had I never been to Berlin before but I had heard so much about the course that I couldn’t wait for the run. The problem was that I wanted to run it well.

After 7 previous marathons I was becoming very disillusioned with running, whilst I enjoy running and the experiences and friendships it offers I wasn’t getting any quicker, in fact I was getting slower. The Connemarathon came close to finishing my marathon career altogether – but I had already signed up for Berlin and this time it was going to be different.

The training started 16 weeks ago. Before this I only managed to run about 3 times a week, two 5 miles runs during the week and a long run at the weekend. I recognised that the big change I had to make was to quit playing indoor football every week. Not only could I not run on the soccer night, I couldn’t run the day after as my legs were too heavy and often I would pick up a knock or two. This was going to be difficult, after 8 years of playing week in and week out I found it as hard as an addict quitting drugs. Many weeks I would be ready for a run but practically putting on my shin guards for soccer instead. The other difference with this plan was the long runs and I made a big effort to do each and every one, starting with 12 miles the 1st week and building up to 21 miles as the weeks went on. I immediately started to see improvements and found that I was breaking 8 minute miles more often on the shorter runs, I managed to knock 1min 15sec off my Streets of Galway PB so I was definitely improving. A weekly Pilate’s class was added to the mix and I was feeling good.

The Craic Was 90 in Berlin 2008

Three weeks before Berlin I almost blew it. A week’s holiday to Holland was just too relaxing, the beer was good, strong and tasty and I didn’t get the running in. Two 30 minute runs in the week and I was shattered. Still I had lots of training done and luckily I had been fit and healthy all the way through.

So it was off to Berlin with 4 good running friends of mine, Val Fogarty (Craughwell), Dervilla D’Arcy (Craughwell), Chris Burke (Iron Woman) and Anne Moloney (Cork), dedicated runners that would run at any time of the day and in any weather that was thrown at them.

The day before the run did not go well! As well as being my birthday I had to get up at 4.30am to catch the 6.05 flight from Dublin. The train into Berlin was delayed by an hour for engineering works. I also arrived into East Berlin and the new Expo was in West Berlin and they hadn’t sent out all the information needed to collect the numbers. The queues for the help desk were an hour long. By 4pm we had our numbers and were back at our hotel. The last pasta meal was a disaster too. After an hour and a half waiting for our meal to turn up we finally gave up, left the restaurant and went back to our hotel to eat. We finally ate at 2215 – it was late, I was shattered and the run was in the morning!

I was nervous on the big day. I had prepared like never before for a marathon, hitting 50 miles a week once – but had I blown it? Was a 4 hour marathon just a dream for me? I knew I was capable but had never got near the time. It was busy at the start, having trained together the 5 of us were all split up at the bag drop, this was not good, on top of that it was so busy I could not even get into the starting pen.

Then it all started to go right! As soon as I crossed the start line I felt very comfortable. Berlin is just so flat, there are no hills to slow the pace and I soon settled into an 8.54 mile pace. This was good and I was happy. The miles came and went and I was in control. I didn’t want to go any faster though as this was my failing on all previous marathons. I kept remembering back to Connemara and how miles 13 and 20 ruined everything for me. The weather was perfect, there was no wind or a cloud in the sky - it wasn’t too warm either. What really made the day was the support along the course. The spectators were amazing and really gave you a lift. The bands were great too – it’s easy running to Booker T and the MG’s. The support in London was good but not this good. The miles soon fell away but I never hit the wall, I believe it was knocked down in 1989! The first half I ran a 1.59. Was a 4 hour marathon seriously possible? For me a negative split is the doom and gloom that goes through my head in the second half after you see your original goal in tatters. I doubted it was on the cards but was going to see what happened. During the second half I found my pace slowing but not too much, I was still feeling comfortable and who knows what was still in the legs. I continued happily along until mile 23. The last 3 miles were HARD. I wanted the 4 hour time but it was touch and go. Sadly I didn’t make it. I crossed the line in 4:01:53 but there was only a little disappointment as I had just improved my PB by 31 minutes. As well as the PB I had a great day and was happy running marathons again. Plus I still had the challenge of breaking 4 hours and that will attempted in 4 weeks time in Dublin.

I must take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support. Marathon running isn’t easy, it takes a lot of dedication and support from many people. Those 16 weeks were hard going and you have to juggle family, friends, work and fun.

A big thank you to my wife Gillian – she changed a lot of nappies on her own in those 16 weeks. A big thank you also to everyone who I ran with in training, they all helped to improve my running.

Well done too to Val, Chris, Dervilla and Anne, thanks for a great weekend!

To really cap the day Gebrselassie set a new world record and we saw him at the after run party dance on stage to his favourite song “Scatman” by Scatman John.

Geb Struts His Stuff...